Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Silas and Liam exited the room and closed the door behind them to offer Alyssa and Julien some privacy.

"Julien..." Alyssa called out to him softly.

Suddenly, she found herself at a loss for words. It did not seem like an appropriate time to comfort him or discuss his relationship with Jonah.

After what felt like a long silence, Julien hung his head low as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Lyse, I'm sorry."

Shaking her head furiously, she gently comforted him, "Julien, this is not your fault. You don't owe anyone an apology. There's nothing wrong in loving Jonah."

"It's my fault." Julien mumbled with his head kept low like a criminal. His confident self was nowhere to be seen. "Aunt Mandy was right. I ruined Jonah's life. Things would have been different if I had listened to her.

"Lyse, I am at fault. I'm being selfish. I would rather be the one to pay the price. I'm willing to sacrifice anything as long as Jonah isn't hurt. I would like everything to go back to how it was, but I think it's too late."

A wave of pain rolled through her. She had a lump in her throat. Putting aside Jonah's suffering, Julien seemed to be utterly destroyed.

a senior I'm on good terms with. He's a

get his help to treat Mr.

eyes wavered in shock. She croaked, "Julien, what about you? What

going home to Mosgravia." He flashed her a bitter smile. "I will likely

cope if you leave?" She worriedly grabbed his arm. "You love Jonah very

assumed all the responsibility because he didn't want you scolded and harassed. He'd risk his reputation to protect

his eyes to meet her gaze. An agonizing

She grasped his arm so hard that

by family and disowned just to return to Jonah's side. Is this the outcome you want after all that determination you showed? Are you happy that it

Finally, Julien broke down and cried. "But Lyse, what good does it do? Society will not accept us. Your dad and your entire family will

everything up for Jonah, but I don't want him to lose everything for me. He needs to be the happiest man in the world, or

him intensely and said, "And that is you staying by

giving up

trembled violently at